A place of unique beauty, seeking to inspire, enlighten, and connect people of all ages to the world of plants, gardening, and horticulture.
August Plant of the Month
Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra ‘Burning Hearts’
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‘Burning Hearts’ Oxeye Sunflower
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by Hazel Cangialosi
Heliopsis is a genus of flowers native to North and South America with species ranging from Canada all the way to Bolivia. The name Heliopsis, from the Greek words helios and opsis, means “resembling the sun”, a reference to their sunflower-like appearance, while Helianthus, the Latin name for sunflowers, means “sun” (helios) “flower” (anthos). Heliopsis helianthoides is native to eastern prairies and a favorite of pollinators. The scabra variety has hairy, rough (scabrous) leaves; ‘Burning Hearts’ features purple-tinged leaves.
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This perennial flower will thrive in a wide array of soil types, and once established is highly drought tolerant. With bright yellow petals that fade into brilliant red and a mature height between 3 and 4 feet, this eye catching, hardy flower is a worthwhile addition to any slope, prairie, or cottage garden. ‘Burning Hearts’ oxeye can be found blooming in the Cottage Garden, found at the end of the Kitchen Garden to the right of the Welcome Center.





